Canadian woman saved by from stroke by 'selfie'

TORONTO, June 18 (UPI) -- Symbolically, selfies may signal the death of human civilization; but for one woman in Canada, a single selfie helped save her from a stroke.

Just two days before the selfie was recorded, emergency room doctors had diagnosed a series of face numbness and slurred speech incidents experienced by Stacey Yepes as simply the result of stress. They offered some counseling on breathing exercises and sent her on her way.

The next day, the symptoms returned. Only this time, she turned on her camera and began recording.

The next day, the selfie helped doctors finally diagnose Yepes with transient ischemic attacks, or mini-strokes, as a results of plaque buildup in her arteries.

Not everyone is ready to jump on the selfie-as-life-saving-technique train.

"Don't waste time on a video, just call 911." said Dr. Markku Kaste, of the World Stroke Organization. "It's the same thing for everyone. If you're having a stroke, think you're having a stroke or see someone having one -- just call 911."

Yepes, who is now taking cholesterol-lowering medication and blood thinners and hasn't had a stroke since, agrees with Dr. Kaste -- call 911, then take the video.

"I would just encourage anybody, if you have these symptoms, or even if you remotely think (you do), go and get it checked out," she said. "Don't wait because your greatest chance of recovering is getting it looked at immediately."

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